Resilient tip for crutches.



Juan B. B1: :3,

IXVI/E/VTOR.

A TTORNEY.

J. B. EDIE.

RESILIENT TIP FORCRUTCHES.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. I9. 1918. 1,286,963.

rm: nun; runs co. max-o um Asnlncwn c entrain r JOHN B. EDIE, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

RESILIEN'I TIP FOR CRUTCI-IES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January-19, 1918. Serial No. 212,600{..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN B. EDIE, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Alle-' that the ordinary type of crutches and canes having the usual rubber treads or metal extremities cause certain diseases to occur in the nerves, muscles and bones, when used over a considerable period of time, due to the lack of suflicient resilient action of' such crutches and canes.

In my form of resilient crutch tip all the foregoing disadvantages are obviated, as practically all the shock of the crutch in reaching its loaded position 011 the ground is dissipated by means of a coiled spring, as will be more fully explained hereinafter. A rubber tread or ground-engaging member ofany of the ordinary types which have a threaded shank, can be used with my invention, or a metal prong may be interchangeably used with it when in use on icecovered pavements, without losing the resilient efl'ect of the coiled spring as will be also further explained as the description of the device proceeds herein.

In the accompanying drawings I have shown one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention, constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of the invention.

Figurel is alongitudinal section showing my invention attached to the stafiofa crutch or cane. 12.?

Fig. 2 is an end View of the crutch tip taken on line 22 of the Fig. 1, with the crutch stafi removed therefrom.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cross-section taken on line H of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the hollow piston used with my invention, and on the center line thereof.

Fig. 6 is an end view of F ig. '5 taken from the right of same.

Fig. 7 is an end view of Fig. 1 taken from the right of same.

Fig. 8 is a side view of the tip shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a side view of a substitute metallic prong, used with my invention.

Fig. 10 is an end view of same taken from the right of Fig. 9.

The numeral 1 indicates a metal socket having an internally threaded end .2 adapted to receive the threaded end of the crutch staff 3 as shown. In the said threaded end 2 of the socket is a chamber 1 preferably cylindrical in cross section to receive the circular washer 5 for a purpose explained below. The opposite end 6 of the metal socket 1 is provided with the recessed chamher '7, which is smoothly finished and has a hollow piston 8, adapted to reciprocate therein. The said piston 8 carries a piston ring 9 having an external diameter of proper size to fit the bore of the chamber 7, and an inner diameter sufficient to permit the piston 8 to pass therethrough as shown clearly in the drawings. A coiled spring 10 engages about the exterior of the cylindrical body portion 11 of the piston 8, within the chamber 7 and ofproperly gaged tension, depending on the amount of resiliency desired, and the weight of the person using the crutch, as is readily appreciated. The hollow piston 8 is provided with an outwardly flaring annular mouthpiece 12, and an annular shoulder 13 formed integral with the body of the piston, againstwhich last the piston ring 9 engages when acted on by the'coiled spring 10, as will be described. The hollow piston 8 has an inner chamber 14, and a threaded throat,portion,15 as shown,'in which the threaded end of the rubber tread holder 16 is inserted. The tread holder 16, and rubber tread-20 shown in Fig. 1, are of a well known type, but it will be understood that any other suitable type may be used with my invention, which is provided with a threaded shank adapted to engage the threads 15 of the piston. The tread holder 16 shown is hinged at 17 and is provided with jaws 18, 19 adapted to re- Patented Dec. 10, 1918.

ceive when disengaged from the piston 8, and in opened position, the rubber tread 20 and when in engaged and closed position as shown in the Fig. 1 securely holds the rubber tread in place in the tip.

The socket 1 has a connecting passage 21, through which passes a headed screw 22, having a head 23 in the chamber 4, and its opposite end 24 engaging the complementary threaded end of the hollow pistonS. A hard rubber or metallic washer 5 before mentioned is employed beneath the head 23 of the headed screw 22 to take the wear between the head 23 and the face of the interior. division wall 25 of the socket 1 and a second washer preferably of such material as rubber or leatherhaving some small amount of resiliency is interposed between the end of the coiled spring 10 and the right or opposite face of the wall 25 aforesaid.

It will be seen from the Fig. 1 of the drawings that the coiled spring in its normal or extended position engages against the socket wall 25 by means of the washer 26 at one end, and against the shoulder 13 of the hollow piston 8 by means of the piston ring while also encircling thebody portion 11 of the piston.

It is further seen that any compressive force exerted on the crutch statf' 3 and the rubber-tread 20, tends to compress the coiled spring 10, and the headed screw 22 slidably operates through the passage 21 to take the position shown dotted at 27. The socket 1 advances to the dotted position 28 during the time of compression, and it is evident any shock is entirely dissipated by means of the spring. 10. The headed screw 22 being rigidly mounted in the piston 8, guides the latter as it recipro'cates in the chamber 7.

It is at once apparent that a metal prong 29 shown in Figs. 9 and 10, having a screw threaded end 30 adapted to engage threads 15 of the hollow piston 8, and a sharpened end 31, may readily'be substituted for the rubber tread 20 and its holder 16, when it is desired to use the crutch or cane on icy pavements.

The whole ombination tip is readily taken apart by merely removing the crutch staff 3, and withdrawing the headed screw 22, so that the matter of changing springs of varying tension, or piston rings is comparatively easy. The appearance of the combination tip aS shown in Fig. 8 is attractive, its weight is negligible, and its serviceability unquestioned. 1

What I claim is 1. In a. resilient crutch in combination a socket having a screw threaded end, a piston chamber formed in the socket, a hollow piston adapted to reciprocate within the the piston chamber, having an internally beveled mouthpiece, and an annular shoulder formed thereon, resilient means engaging against the said annular shoulder to resist compressive movement of the piston, and means for preventing disengagement of the piston from the aforesaid socket.

2. In a resilient crutch tip in combination, a socket having attaching means for a crutch stafl, a cylindrical chamber adjacent to said means, a piston chamber in the socket, a hollow piston adapted to reciprocate within the piston chamber, having an outwardly flaring mouthpiece and means for attaching a ground-engaging member, an annular shoulder formed on the piston, a coiled spring engaging against the said shoulder and adapted to resist compressive movement of the piston, and means for guiding and preventing displacement of the hollow piston from the aforesaid socket.

3. In a resilient crutch tip, a socket having means of attachment to a crutch staif, a piston chamber in the socket, a hollow piston adapted to reciprocate within the piston chamber, having an outwardly flaring mouthpiece and a screw threaded throat, means for resiliently resisting the inward movement of the hollow piston, and means for guiding and preventing disengagement of the piston from the aforesaid piston chamber.

4. In a resilient crutch tip, a sockethaving a screw-threaded end, and a cylindrical chamber adjacent to the latter, a piston chamber in the socket, an integral division wall formed in the socket separating said chambers, a hollow reciprocating piston in the piston chamber, an internally beveled mouthpiece and an annular shoulder formed on the end of the piston, a coiled spring enaging against the annular shoulder of the atter, and the said division wall, a headed screw for adjusting the tension of the coiled spring, and preventing displacement of the hollow piston from its chamber, having an annular projecting head located in the above first mentioned cylindrical chamber, and the opposite end of said screw adjustably at tached to the hollow piston.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN B. EDIE.

Witnesses:

'M. M. DEMOND, WILLIAM A. HIRTLE.

Cppies of this patent may be attained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Eatenta,

- r Washington, D. 0. 

